This archive report was first published on 22 October 2021.
On October 22, 2021, Governor Muthomi Njuki made a surprise visit to Chuka Referral Hospital, disguised as an old man. He walked in alone, without his security detail or aides, and was not recognized by the hospital staff or patients.
During his two-hour visit, Governor Njuki witnessed the mistreatment of elderly patients by younger patients and hospital staff. He noted that the queuing system had been circumvented, allowing younger patients to jump ahead of older ones.
“There were patients that had come at 11.00 am, (especially ageing women) and they were unattended because the systems have been circumvented by young able patients who can negotiate,” the governor said.
He also expressed disappointment with the hygiene and order in the outpatient and Customer Care sections, stating that patients who were not strong enough to queue were being pushed aside.
However, Governor Njuki's visit was not just about pointing out problems. He also took the opportunity to experience the services firsthand, waiting for 30 minutes to get his vitals taken.
“It took me 30 minutes to get my vitals like blood pressure taken,” he said. “I spent two hours before they realised,” he added.
After his visit, Governor Njuki expressed confidence that the hospital's services would improve.
